Gate-latch.



A. A. STILL.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION men APR. 15. 1916.

i It $5? l m====m== t 1 E fl;-

ABRAM ALLEN STILL, OF ANNETTE, CALIFORNIA.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916-.

Application filed April 15, 1916. Serial No. 91,503.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAM A. STILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Annette, in the county of Kern and State of California, have made an Improvement in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in the class of latches which are pivoted to a gate post in horizontal position and adapted to engage the free edge of a gate when swinging from either direction.

The details of construction, arrangement and operation of the parts forming my improved latch are as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the latch engaged with a lug applied to a swinging gate. Fig. 2 is a face view of the latch tilted or inclined as when being opened. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is in part a plan view and in part a longitudinal section of the latch.

Fig. 5 is a reduced cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The latch proper K is a bar which tapers from the middle toward the ends A, which serve as handles in opening the latch. The underside of the handles is practically straight and inclined slightly upward from tachment of said plate; A nut C is applied to the rear end of the bolt B exterior to the tube, and serves to prevent withdrawal of the bolt without interfering with its rocking function.

The diameter of the bolt B is much less than that of the tube D, and a plate spring I is secured to the bolt at a point adjacent to the outer end and its free end is curved V upward into frictional engagement with the tube D, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the spring holds the bolt pressed normally downward into contact with the under side of the tube D as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The housing plate E has two vertical slots F arranged on opposite sides of the tube D, see Figs. 2 and 3, and these slots receive lugs or studs G projecting fromthe inner side of the plate E, asshown in Fig. 4. The housing E and tube D have an attachment E, shown in Fig. 4, which serves as means for securing the device to a post.

It will be seen that when the gate is closed, as in Figs. 1 and 3, the gate lug H hes in the notch J of the latch K; and that to open the gate the operator seizes and raises one of the handles A of the latch, as shown 1n Fig. 2, so that it is released from the gate lug H and permits the gate to swing open. In this tilting operation of the latch, the bolt B is rocked or rotated to a corresponding degree, and at the same time raised against the pressure of the spring I.

hen the latch K is closed, the lugs Gr rest at the bottom of the slots F in the housing plate E, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the latchis held level or horizontal and in due position to operate as required. hen the latch is tilted, the lugs G are guided by the slots in the vertical movement of the latch and bolt.

I claim 1. The improved gate-latch comprising latch proper having its ends extended laterally and provided with a central notch on its underside, a bolt whose free end carries said latch and is adapted to rock and swing, as described; a'housing for said bolt which allows such movement, a spring arranged in the housing and serving to depress the bolt, and hold the latch proper normally in position for engaging the gate, substantially as described.

3. The improved gate latch proper having its ends extended laterally and provided with a'central notch and lugs on its rear side, a horizontal bolt latch comprising a on which said latch is supported, the front end of said bolt being free to rotate, and

swing vertically and horizontally, a housing for the bolt including a plate having vertical slots and a spring arranged in the housing and acting on the bolt tohold it in normal position, as described.

4- The improved gate latch comprising a notched latch having lugs on its rear side and its ends extended, the underside of the end portions being inclined upward and horizontally, a rocking bolt on which the latch is fixed, a tube in Which the said bolt is inclosed With freedom of vertical and lateral movement, a spring arranged in sa1d tube and pressing upon the bolt, and a plate 7 fixed on the head of said tube and having 10 vertical slots to receive the lugs of the latch and guide the latter in its vertical movement, as described.

ABRAhl ALLEN STILL.

lVitnesses HELEN M. VVoLF, HARRY L. HATCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

